WEBVTT
THESE RADIOS HAVE BEEN
FAILING AT THE MOST CRITICAL
TIMES.
REPORTER DAN HOPE SPELLING OUT
THE PROBLEM HE AND OFFICERS HAD
BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT FOR
MONTHS, RADIO PROBLEMS.
WITH THE RADIO TO THE FIELD,
THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS
BY OFFICERS, DISPATCHERS THAT
THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND EACH
OTHER.
REPORTER AT RIVERFEST A LARGE
CROWD WA PANICKED, PLEASE FOR
CHOOSING A SUSPECT, AND RADIO
DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH.
>> ALL THE
TRANSMISSIONS WERE
KNOCKED DOWN, UNABLE TO BE
FORWARDED OUT.
IT BECAME QUITE HAZARDOUS
THE
UITION.
THESE ARE OUR LIFELINES.
TH OUTCOME IS, RADIOS WORKING
EFFICIENTLY ASAP.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT
WE GET WORKING RADIOS.
REPORTER: COUNCILMEMBER'S GOT A
CHANCE TO HEAR ABOUT THE
PROBLEMS FIRSTHAND TODAY.
THEY'RE WORKING ON A SOLUTION
WITH MOTOROLA.
HE IS TRYING TO FORCE THE ISSUE.
>> WE WANT TO FORCE MOTOROLA TO
WORK QUICKLY ON THIS.
WE WANT OUR PEOPLE TO BE SAFE
WHEN THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB.
REPORTER: SERGEANT SAYS
HE IS
TRYING TO SEE IF THEY HAVE THE
LEGAL STANDING TO FILE A LAWSUIT

Cincinnati FOP threatens to sue over radios

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Updated: 6:13 PM EDT Oct 10, 2016

The Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police is threatening legal action over problems with its police radios. The radio system that’s less than a year old has been unreliable, according to officers, and failing at the most critical times.

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FOP president Dan Hils spelled out his concerns for members of Cincinnati City Council during a meeting of the law and public safety committee Monday.

Hils says the rank and file officers have been complaining about problems for months.

“Immediately when the radios hit the field, there were a lot of complaints by officers, by dispatchers that they couldn’t understand one another,” Hils said.

He talked about one particular problem when shots were fired during Riverfest. There were a combination of issues that made the situation dangerous - a large crowd that was panicked, police chasing a suspect, and radio traffic that didn’t make it through.

“Transmissions were knocked down and were unable to be forwarded out and it became quite a hazardous situation – these are our lifelines,” Hils said.

Members of Cincinnati City Council expressed their concerns about the situation.

“Obviously the outcome is radios working efficiently ASAP,” said Councilman Christopher Smitherman.

“The most important thing is that we get working radios for our cops,” said Councilman Kevin Flynn.

Assistant City Manager John Juech let councilmembers know that the cityadministration is working on solutions with Motorola.

Hils acknowledged he’s trying to force the issue – and that he’s not interested in a financial windfall as much as working radios.

“Our goal is to force Motorola to act quickly on this and that way our people are safe when they’re doing their job,” Hils said.

Hils said he’s directed the lawyer for the fraternal order of police to determine if the union has legal standing to sue Motorola over the radio problems, since they’re the ones using them in the field.